Improved fire-escape



dnimi tatra @met @limita -1 EDWIN P.' RICHARDSON'OF MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Lena-s Patent No. 89,686, daad May 4,1869.

IMPRO'V'ED FIRE-ESCAPE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may conce/m Be it known that I, EDWIN P. RrcHARDsON, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough, and State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l represents a perspective view of this invention ready for use Figure 2 is a View of the staff-head.

Figure is the sliding frame.

Figures 4 and 5, sections of the stad.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a building.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a portable fire-escape, built in such a manner that its several parts may be disconnected for packing in a small compass, readjusted in a short 'space of time, to permit its being raised against a building in case of re, and allow the escape of any persons from the windows, or tops of buildings without risk of injury.

v Theinvention consists, first, of a staff, or a series, jointed together, of suicien't strength to support the weight of one or more persons in their passage down in the basket, by aid of the sliding frame; secondly, in the slotted staff-head, and the pulleys used to assist in raising't-he sta'; thirdly, in the siding frame and spool; fourthly, in the basket, and the rope used to raise and lowerit, all these devices acting in combination with the guy-ropes, to secure the safe passage down, of persons confined within a building, when the ordinary modes of passage are cut oii by lire, or otherwise Fig. 1. Ais'the staff in one or more sections, which is shortened or lengthened as occasion requires.

- B represents the basket, or cage, which is raised or lowered by means of the rope O and sliding frame E. C is the hoist-rope, passed through the slot of the staf-head, and over the pulley D, and its end secured to the sides of the sliding frame E. D is the rope-pulley, secured in the slot of the stahead by its spindle.

E is the sliding frame which encircles the staff, is attached to the basket, and by means of a concave spool, is easily slid up and down on the staff.

F F are two grooved pulleys secured to the spindle H,'which turn freely by contact with the building, acting as rollers to assist in raising the stal G is the staff-head, made of metal, and slotted to.

J is the spike, which also serves to prevent the bottom of the staff from'slipping.

L L are rings, to which the guy-ropes are secured at their upper end.

M is a pin inserted to keep in place the spike J.

Similar letters of reference indicate likeparts.

The prime object of this inventionis to furnish liredepartments with a portable fire-escape, which shall be more elhcient in its operation, simpler in its con-- struction, and cheaper in cost than those heretofore in use; and these points, my experience as one of the engineers of this city, demonstrate to me as desirable, and which practical experiment proves are attained in the above combination of devices.

The mode of operating this invention is as follows:

One or more sections of stat are joined-together; the hoist-rope is passed over the pulley D, and attached to the sides of the sliding frame; the basket is then secured in position, the stai-head is placed against the building, and grooved pulleys act as rollers to assist in raising the stalito the desired height; the guy-ropes on each side are held by persons, or secured, and the stai` is then ready to raise the basket, or lower it to any desired position, where a person from a window may step in and be landed safely.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patenta The combination of the sectional staii A, stad-head G, pulleys D and F F, with the sliding frame E, and basket B, when constructed as described, and vfor the purpose set forth.

The above specication of my invention signed by me, this 24th day of February, A D. 1869.

` E. P. RICHARDSON. 4Witnesses:

J. E. Wrnson, O. L. HAnMoN. 

